Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Jayco Bay Cycling Classic kick starts 2011

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 10:28

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Australia’s favourite criterium series, the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic, is set to return bigger than ever on Sunday, 2 January as it kick starts the 2011 cycling calendar with its 22nd edition.

Just three months after close to 300,000 people witnessed the world’s best riders at the first road world championships held in the southern hemisphere, Geelong will again open its roads for the first stage of the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic before the peloton visit fellow host cities Portarlington and Williamstown.

Launching the event via teleconference this afternoon, event director John Trevorrow said that the peloton will boast a record 20 teams and many of Australia’s best riders in what is known as the fastest criterium series in the world.

"It is the 22nd year of the Bay Crits and this is going to be the best one yet, definitely the best field," Trevorrow said.

"We have got a record 20 teams in the elite men’s which is fantastic and the list of names is very impressive. It is a really class field in both the men’s and women’s events."

Amongst the confirmed starters are two men who earlier this year achieved career highlights at the Road World Championships in Geelong and who will return to the familiar roads in search of the perfect opening to the 2011 season.

20-year-old Michael Matthews (Urban Hotel Group, ACT), who won the under-23 road world championship will make the transition to open racing in Geelong before joining the Rabobank Professional Cycling Team for his first year on the professional circuit.

Elite men’s bronze medallist Allan Davis (Bikebug.com, QLD) will also join the impressive start list with further announcements to be made next week.

2004 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic champion Baden Cooke and 2010 Giro d’Italia best young rider Ritchie Porte will ride for the Lowe Farms / Bomaroo Nurseries team whilst Tasmanian trio Matthew Goss, Wesley and Bernie Sulzberger will join forces for the E3/ Pure Tasmania lineup.

Racing for O2 Networks, 2007 and 2008 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic champion Mark Renshaw (HTC-Columbia, NSW) will start as one of the hot favourites for stage and general classification honours in a bid to become just the second man to win the event on three occasions.

After missing the 2010 event due to illness, Renshaw is out to claim early season victories before returning to his duties as the lead out man for Tour de France sprint champion Mark Cavendish (GBR).

Joining the launch from his home in Monaco, one of the events biggest supporters, cycling legend Stuart O’Grady announced that he had been forced to withdraw from the event following a mishap on the ski fields at a recent team training camp.

O’Grady, who was due to ride for Urban Hotel Group alongside 2009 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic winner Graeme Brown and Matthews, suffered two broken ribs in the fall earlier this week.

"Obviously I am really disappointed, for me it’s quite an important decision, a big decision with three kids and a family and only be in Australia for such a short time," O’Grady said

"Not only am I supporting John’s (Trevorrow) races and it’s a great series but it is extremely important preparation for the Tour Down Under. You get the opportunity to train on some great roads in the morning and do some really hard, intense fast racing."

For the sixth consecutive year, Amy’s Ride will provide over 2500 recreational cyclists the opportunity to ride amongst some of their professional heroes in a fantastic initiative by the Amy Gillett Foundation (AGF) to proliferate key messages of safe and responsible road use, increase awareness to the need for more shared respect, raise much needed funds and honour the memory of Amy.

AGF patron Phil Anderson said the event will see some changes this year which will make the ride the safest yet.

"This year the entire course will be swept specifically before the event. Riders will start in bunches of 100 (split into fast and slow) and each bunch will be accompanied by a number of pro riders who will brief each group on key safety and behaviour expectations prior to the start," Anderson said.

2011 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic

Date:

Sunday, 2 January 2011 – Wednesday, 5 January 2011

Stages:

Sunday 2 January (Round 1): Geelong - Eastern Park

Amy’s ride 8:30am, Support 12:30pm, Elite Women 1:30pm, Elite Men 2:30pm

Monday 3 January (Round 2): Portarlington

Support 12:30pm, Elite Women 1:20pm, Elite Men 2:30pm

Tuesday 4 January (Round 3): Geelong - Ritchie Blvd

Support 4:30pm, Elite Women 6:00pm, Elite Men 7:00pm

Wednesday 5 January (Round 4): Williamstown

Support 1:30pm, Elite Women 2:20pm, Elite Men 3:30pm

Who:

Elite national and international athletes – men and women

2,500+ recreational cyclists participating in Amy’s Ride